A CLAMPDOWN on people abusing the Blue Badge scheme is escalating with another four prosecutions being prepared by the council, a meeting was told.
The Chronicle reported last week that two people had been prosecuted already since new measures were brought in to tackle the problem of Blue Badge abuse.
During a meeting of the North East Area Council councillors were told that following two successful prosecutions there were four more being prepared for court. One of the first prosecutions was a 54-year-old man from Hemingfield who pleaded guilty to fraudulently using his deceased father’s Blue Badge by altering it to make it appear valid and in-date.
Those who need a Blue Badge will have one issued automatically if they are in receipt of Disability Living Allowance (DLA), receive a Personal Independence Payment (PIP), receive a War Pensioner’s Mobility Supplement or are registered blind. Those who believe they require a Blue Badge but are not in receipt of DLA or PIP are assessed by Barnsley Council who then decide if the person is eligible or not. Parents can also apply on behalf of their children if they have a disability.
Lisa Blackburn and Rachel Lancaster, who came to the meeting to discuss the use of Blue Badges, said that badges are issued for the convenience of the badge holder and nobody else - even if they are running errands for the badge holder - and it should not be abused.
Those who are caught abusing the Blue Badge can be prosecuted and fined up to £1,000 and have the badge seized.
